Improvement in seeding-machines



Mil-1D; WELLS.

Se ed Drdppen Patented Dec. 9, 1856.

N-FEYERS, PIOTO'IJTBDGRAPHER, W-ASHMGTON O C UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MOSES D. WELLS, OF MORGANTOWN, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN SEEDlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,219, dated December9, 1856.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Moses D. WELLs, of Morgantown, in the county ofMonongalia and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Seed-Sowers; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to theannexeddrawings,formiug part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aside elevation of the hopper and scatterer, showing a verticallongitudinal section of a portion thereof. Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line to a". Fig. 4 is atop view of the scatterer. Fig. 5 is a plan of seed-discharge openingsin the movable bottom.

Similar characters of reference in the several figures denote the sameparts.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing the agitatingmechanism of a series of vibrating stirrers swung in slots of alongitudinal bar and vibrated by the reciprocation of a rod having pinsembraced by slots in the upper ends of said stirrers, the bar in whichthe stirrers are swung and the reciprocating rod being inclosed in acase susceptible of vertical adjustment and effectually excluding theseed from the agitating mechanism.

The details of construction and operation of the above-stated featureswill readily be understood from the following description and referenceto the drawings, in which the several parts are thus represented.

A is the hopper, with bottom made up of a series of cells havingdischarge opening at bottom.

B is the stirrer or agitator, swung in slot at of bar 0 on pin 1). Therewill be an agitator over each discharge-openin g.

0 is the bar in which the agitators are swung, which I denominate thefulcrum-bar.

D is a reciprocating rod, movable upon blocks 0 and between sides d, andconnected with the agitators by reason of the pin 6, crossing slot 7',being embraced by slot 9 in the head of the agitator, so that thereciprocation of this rod vibrates the series of agitators.

F is a movable bottom, having openings 0 0 0', any one of which can beplaced over opening l in hopperbottom to suit the character of seed tobe sown. These openings can also be diminished, so as to regulate thequantity sown.

G G are slides for cutting off any of the openings l.

H is a top piece upon sides d, and constituting therewith the caseinclosing the agitating mechanism. This case is held by slots in theends of the hopper, and may either rest on the bottom of the slot orupon the flanges m of the springs n, as in the drawings. In the formercase the points of the agitators will be within the discharge openings,and by moving within them insure a regular discharge from all theopenings. This is important in sowing small seed, where, if the point ofthe agitator be bent and not pass directly over the discharge-slot,there will be a variation in the discharge. This low position of thecase is therefore employed when small seed is to be sown. The positionof the drawingsis for large grain.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The reciprocation of rod Dproduces the vibration of agitators B sufficient to produce thedischarge without the risk of the moving parts being choked by seed. Asthe seed leaves the discharge-opening it falls upon the scatterer, whichhas been hung so as to bring the cross-pieces h under the middle of thedischarge-slots. The longitudinal convex surface deflects the seedtoward the front and rear, and the surfaces of the cross pieces h tendto deflect it in the direction of the length of the hopper, therebyfully covering the ground passed over. The loose hanging of thescatterer enables it to conform to any motion of the hopper frominequalities of ground, and the serrated studs on the ends of the hopperadmit of its being so hung that the cross-pieces h shall be under themiddle of the dischargeslot, however it may vary.

The advantages of this machinemay thnsbe stated: Choking of themovingparts is effectually prevented by means of the combinationcomposing the agitating mechanism, and by the peculiar form andadjustmentof scatterer an even distribution of the seed is insured.

I make no claim to the use of reciprocating bars for causing themovement of either rigid 0r elastic clearers over discharge-apertures ofactuating the vibrating agitators, substanseed-planters, as suchconstitutes no part of tially as and for the purposes set forth.

my invention; but In testimony whereofI have hereunto signed YVhat I doclaim as new and of my own inmy name before two subscribing witnesses.ivseitlon, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, MOSES WELLS.

The combination of the case with the swing- Witnesses: ing protrudingagitators thereof and the re GEO. PATTEN,

ciprocating bar contained within the case and JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD.

